The Peninsula
The World Champion in high jump, Mutaz Essa Barshim will spearhead the home contingent’s campaign at the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships which kicks off at Doha’s iconic Khalifa International Stadium on April 21.
Barshim, the IAAF Athlete-of-the-Year in 2017, is one of the most outstanding athletes Qatar has ever produced. He will join a team of 29 in the four-day extravaganza, which will bring together nearly 1,000 athletes and up to 450 officials from 45 Asian countries.
Despite not competing since July due to an injury, the gravity defying star who holds the Asian Record mark of 2.43m, is expected to start with a bang in front of the home crowd.
Before his season was cut short, the Rio Olympics silver medallist, Barshim showed the world that he is the one to beat, clearing a world-leading 2.40-metre mark twice.
Barshim also had four of the five highest jumps recorded in 2018.
Among Barshim’s Qatari team-mates will be Abderrahman Samba, the most successful track and field athlete last year, being undefeated in nine races.
Ranked second best behind the 2018 Men’s Athlete-of the-Year Eliud Kipchoge, by Track & Field News magazine, Samba will be looking to continue his dominance in his pet event, the men’s 400 metres hurdles.
The 23-year-old became the second man ever to break 47 second barrier last year, and is the clear favourite to win the gold in Doha in another few weeks.
Samba’s 46.98 in Paris last year, leaves him just 0.20 shy of the all-time best, held by Kevin Young of the USA.
The 400 metre-specialist Abdalelah Haroun is also expected to impress. The Asian champion and continental record holder, Haroun has a personal best of 44.07 seconds, which makes him a definite medal prospect for the hosts.
According to the Qatari contingent, revealed by the Qatar Athletics Federation yesterday, the world 400m bronze medallist will be joined by Samba, Mohammed Hamida, Abu Bakr Haider, Jamal Hairane, and Mohamed Nasir Abbas in the one-lap contest.
Samba, Haroun, Hamida, Haider, Hirane and Abbas will also make the 400m relay team.
Another Qatari star to keep an eye on, is Femi Ogunode, the current co-holder of the Asian 100m record.
At 9.91 seconds, Femi shares the fastest time with China’s Su Bingtian and the duel between the two sprinters will be the one to watch at the Khalifa International Stadium track this time.
The four-time Asian Games gold medallist, Femi has won four golds, a silver and a bronze at the Asian Championships, with his last two medals coming from the 2017 edition held in Bhubaneswar, India, two years ago.
Femi’s brother, Tosin, is also among the top starts who will be in action in Doha.
Tosin clinched the silver medal in the 100m dash behind Bingtian at last year’s Asian Games in Indonesia, clocking a time of 10 secs. He will compete in the 100m, 200m and the 100x 4m with eye on a triple in front of his home fans.
In hammer throw, Qatar will be represented by the Asian Champion Ashraf Elseify and his brother Ahmed Amjad as well as Khalil Adel Badawi.
Moaz Mohammed Ibrahim (Discus throw), Ahmed Saeed Faraj (discus throw), Mohammed Al Amin Hamdi (high jump), Rashed Abdulla Al Suwaidi (High jump), Noah Abdulqader (high jump), Jacob Saeed Al Hassani (4x100m), Abdulaziz Mohammed Salem (4x100m), Mohamed Zakareya (4x100m), Saeed Osman Absi (4x100m), Mubarak Rabi Mahmoud (800m), Musab Adam Mahmoud (1500m), Hamza Droush (3000m, 5000m), Yasser Salem (3000m, 5000m), Mohiuddin Elmi, Jaber Hilal Al Mammari (100m, 200m, 4x100m) and Obab Barrow (100m, 110m hurdles, 4x100m) are also included in the Qatari contingent for the four-day continental showpiece.